by C Bradley
Nina, being the culinary mastermind of her own catering company C3 or Custom Culinary Catering by Nina, she is always in charge of the food at parties and family gatherings. Addy is beside her always eager to lend a hand, as off in the distance Micah hammers the stakes into the ground for the tiki torches, and other luau themed lawn decorations.
Lifting the lid of the cooler and tearing open the ice, I cover the wide variety of local brews with a layer to keep them nice and frosty. The backyard of my parent’s place is nothing short of a tropical oasis that includes a fountain that filters into the heated salt-water pool, surrounded by stone planters filled with colorful flowers, and other green shrubs. This house is perfect for hosting parties. I would know because I did it often in high school, while my parents were away on business or vacation. Walking around the pool, I catch a glimpse of Addy motioning for me to come over.
“Hey, B. Can you give Micah a hand lifting the ice luge onto the table?”
“An ice luge? Are you kidding? It’s a party Addy. Not the fucking pope’s homecoming.” I digress and shake my head, before making my way over to Micah.
“I hope you ate your Wheaties this morning Lucas because this fucker is heavy.” Micah smirks, squatting down to grab his side.
“If it’s too heavy, have your girlfriend come over and help me. She probably has bigger biceps than you, bro.” I jest and offer a swift smack on the back, as I help him lift the solid frozen structure onto the display table that Addison setup.
“Thanks, guys!” Addy replies, moving decorations around on the table to surround the ice sculpture.
“Speaking of girlfriends, Lucas. Where’s Hannah?” Micah questions, while plopping himself down on a nearby lounge chair.
“She should be here soon. She said she had to stop by the office really quick to take care of something pressing.” I pull my sunglasses from my head, placing them over my eyes, and I remove my cell from my pocket once seated in a lounger beside Micah.
A picture of Hannah and I appears in the background of my cell once I press the home button. I took the picture the previous weekend, right after Hannah fell asleep, laying on my chest. She looked so peaceful, and she felt like home to me. Hannah is always hesitant to let anyone see the vulnerable side of her, but I’m lucky enough to encounter it on a daily basis. I’m lucky that she loves me, as much as I do her. Opening up my text messages, I respond to her last message.
Me: Hey babe, what’s your ETA? The gangs all here, and I miss my girl.
Her response is almost immediate.
Hannah: Driving there now. Do you need me to pick up anything? Miss you, too. XOXO
Me: I need you to stop texting and driving and get your ass here. Now!
Hannah: I’m on my way. Calm your dick.
Brody: Put your fucking phone away, before I throw it in the pool, when you get here.
Tucking my phone away, I rise from the lounge chair and make my way towards the back entrance of the house.
“Hannah will be here in 5 minutes, so I’m going to head inside and get ready.”
Standing in the shower of the bathroom connected to my childhood bedroom, I close my eyes and let the water wash over my face and head, until I can no longer hold my breath.
“BOO!” A familiar voice shouts, startling me, while simultaneously drawing the shower curtain back, leaving me fully exposed.
“Fuck, Hannah. Give a man some warning next time!” I say, before cupping my junk with both hands.
“Relax, champ. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before,” she purrs, as her eyes travel slowly down my slick torso. “Is it cold in here, Mr. Lucas?” She teases, before her eyes glance down at my hands.
“If it looks like this while cold, you are one lucky woman, Miss Scott.” I un-cup my hands and look down.
Hannah bites down on her bottom lip, which causes my blood to heat. “Move your hands,” she coos.
“As you wish, Miss Scott. I was just trying to save you the embarrassment of a flushed face and wet panties in front of our guests.” I reply, before removing my hands and holding them straight up in the air.
A wide grin masks her face, as she grabs the towel hanging on the back off the bathroom door and tosses it at me. “Get dressed, Mr. Sex on Legs. We definitely don’t have time for that right now.”
Stepping out of the shower stall, I wrap the towel around my waist, then wrap my hands around her waist. “I’ve missed you this week. My bed felt empty without you in it every morning.” Tilting her chin up, her brown eyes lighten at my admission. Leaning in, I take her mouth, using my tongue to part her lips, deepening the moment.
“Brody...” her voice trails, barely an octave above a whisper.
“I’ve missed you too, but I’m paying for an apartment. I should be there sometimes.” She reasons.
“What if you weren’t paying for an apartment?” A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth, after I deliver my question.
Her brow raises, as she responds, “Then I’d be homeless.”
A chuckle escapes me, “Baby, what if you moved in here with me? Like we would live together every morning and night.”
She raises her hand and places it down on my chest, “You want me here all the time?”
Her inquisitive eyes stare back into my own. “Hannah, I want you with me always. Just promise me that you’ll think about it.” I say, raising my hand to cover hers, softly pressing my lips to her forehead.
“Baby, what if you moved in here with me? Like we would live together every morning and night. Hannah, I want you with me always.”
Breathe. Just breathe.
Standing in front of Brody, I continue my inner chant, as he simply asks me to think about moving in. I close my eyes, as his lips touch my forehead, and I try to focus on keeping my heart rate in check.
“I’ll think about it, stud.” I offer my all but a-towel-naked boyfriend a wink, hightailing it out of the bathroom.
He wants me to move in. It’s only been a few months. Months. Yes, we have exchanged the ‘I love you’ declaration, but he just lost his parents. I mean what if this is all just him deflecting his grief? What if I’m the distraction?
I take my time, making my way outside to join Nina, Addison, Micah, and some Jackson Avery lookalike. I remind myself to shut down the emotions and replace my scattered thoughts with the all-things-are-just-as-they-should-be face. Hearing Brody moving about above me, I lengthen my stride and jump into the riveting conversation of who makes better summer salad between either Nina or oh shit, what is this man’s name?
“Hannah!” Nina exclaims, breaking up the current debate.
“Hey, Nina! Everything looks amazing. When you say, ‘I’ll take care of the food and drinks,’ you really meant business.” Giggling as we rock back and forth in a loose embrace, I sense Brody approaching. I don’t know how or why it happens, but it’s as if every last nerve in my body is drawn to him, and it scares the ever-loving shit out of me.
“It’s tradition. Well, it was tradition, but yeah, it’s tradition.” With misty eyes, she shrugs and folds into the nameless man’s arms.
She must see the question flashing, as I eye him because without asking she offers his name, “Zane, I just realized you guys haven’t met. Babe, this is Hannah, Brody’s girlfriend.”
“Cool, hey. Nice to meet you, Hannah.” Zane’s greeting does everything but make me feel comfortable. The way his beady little eyes travel from my bare toes back up to my eyes, lingering an uncomfortable amount of time at my chest.
“Zane.” Brody’s voice growls in what some may consider a gruff greeting, but I know that voice. His voice is not only claiming what is his, but also offering a warning to Zane to divert his creepy eyes from my body. I’m not surprised that it works, but I am surprised by Nina’s admonishing towards Brody.
“Brody, not today. So, cool your shit.” With a flip of her hair, she spins towards the pig roasting on the spit.
“So barbaric,” Addison laughs, as Brody’s arms
wrap around my waist, pulling my back flush against his muscular chest.
“He’s a creepy ass douchebag. Plus, he was ogling Hannah. Micah would’ve had him pinned to the concrete slab we’re standing on, and that’s without a greeting. I loathe that worthless excuse of a human.”
“Brody,” I chastise, stepping out of his embrace. “Relax. No one was harmed. It’s over now, so let it go.”
And let it go, he did not.
Then again, those beady eyes of Zane’s continued to rake my body for a few hours, as we all played a few rounds of Heads Up and drank citrus-based sangrias. The thing is I’m used to random people, but what I’m not used to is someone other than Micah, pissing all over my leg claiming me. Making my way into the kitchen for a brief reprieve, from the suggestion to move in with Brody still looming and the unwanted eye fuck, I hear footsteps, before I see the unwanted guest nearing me.
“Zane,” I nod and acknowledge him, as he takes residence next to me, close enough that I can smell the sour alcohol scent of his breath, as he grins salaciously at me. “Here’s the deal. While I’m certain my boyfriend could end you without much effort, and my best friend over there would hardly need to extend any sort of effort to knock you down the several feet you so desperately need dropped to, I can take care of myself. So, if you so much as glance in my direction again, you won’t be able to follow through with whatever perverse ideas floating in your pea brain, because I’ll ruin you. You’ll be crying for God to take mercy on you, and your sad excuse for a dick. Am I clear?”
I swing my head to the right and await his answer, taking great pride, as his Adam’s apple bobs in what I confidently presume is nervousness. “You’re a cocky little bitch, aren’t you?” He muses, his voice a heads breath above a whisper.
Without a second of hesitation, my right-hand drops from my hip, and I latch onto the front of his cargo shorts, gripping his hardening cock and twist, while pulling quickly with force. “I warned you,” I growl, as he screams out in agony, before dropping to his knees. Raising my knee, just as Zane bends down, I make contact with his nose, sending a red spray of fresh blood down my bare leg.
“I’d suggest you come up with a reason why your nose is broken, because if you dare throw this back at me, that’s not the only broken piece of your body you’ll endure today.” Offering my last piece of advice to the womanizing prick, I move to the sink and scrub my skin clean of Zane’s blood, while he continues to hunch down groaning.
Returning to the group outside, I avoid direct conversation only inserting commentary here and there, and instead, take in all the beauty of the backyard. Between the pool and fountain spraying the recycled water, the greenery and flower clusters could give any florist heart palpitations. It’s only as my eyes begin to wander the property do I catch the same type of flowers I received merely a week ago.
The blue heart lily. It has been my favorite, since the first time I saw it. Closing my eyes, I lean my head back into the pillow of the hammock I’ve taken ownership of, and the memories begin to flood so quickly and so vividly.
Micah and I are out at the beach house for Mother’s Day, arriving a few hours before his parents. We’d fought the entire way, and once we arrived, I stormed off down the beach. I loved the James’ family for taking me in and Micah for loving me unconditionally, but the entitlement was something I could never overlook. Micah knew he had a luxurious life; he knew all his wants could be his. When he took advantage of that knowledge, he became a very different person.
I wander down the beach line for about forty-five minutes, before turning back because I know the luncheon will be beginning. Three homes down from the James’ beach estate a tall, tan, dark-haired guy is barreling up the walkway with flowers in one hand and balloons in the other.
“Holy Jesus, dude!” I exclaim, as he runs by me.
“Shit, sorry,” the teen apologizes, stopping abruptly. “We’re surprising my mom, so we parked down the way.” He is panting in and out his words all the while taking me in. It’s crazy how much I like it, especially since I have Micah waiting for me, but I can’t just walk away. “Anyway, I forgot my mom’s flowers and balloons.” He shrugs, as he starts to make his way up the property that I assumed was his. I shake my head and start walking towards Micah’s, when he calls out, “See ya ‘round!”
Nevertheless, I didn’t see him again, but I remembered those flowers. I typed the description into the google search bar, and their name appeared with a mirrored image to what I’d just seen, blue heart lilies. They had white petals with a sky-blue center painting the white midway to each petals middle.
“Hannah, baby. You sleepin’?” Brody’s voice breaks my reverie; his hand skims the length of my leg, leaving goose bumps in his wake.
“Just relaxing,” I hazily reply.
“Dare I ask what was causing the smile I just watched tug your lips?” The humor caressing his words warms me, sending the anxious feelings I’d had since he asked me to move in evaporate.
“Hmm, I was thinking back to the first time I saw blue heart lilies.” Opening my eyes, I smile at his adoring smile. “They’re my favorite.”
“I know, and they were my mom’s, too. Two beautiful women with beautiful taste.” He assesses, before kissing my forehead and pulling away. “The food’s ready. Let’s eat.”
Dinner was so delicious, and I’m stuffed. Nina’s skills are far beyond amazing, and I’m pretty sure with all the moaning and groaning through dinner, as we sat around the fire pit, she knows that much.
“I need the recipe to the summer salad. It was killer,” Micah muses, as he rocks back and forth with Addison on the swing bench.
“Oh, it was Zane’s, but I have the recipe card in the kitchen.” She says.
“Where’d the douche go anyway?” This question comes from Addison, as she smiles in his known absence.
“He texted me saying he felt sick, and that he left through the front.” The nonchalant shrug Nina throws us has me wondering if she’s even all that sad about it. Brody’s bark of laughter catches me off guard, and I jerk in the hammock I snatched again after dinner. “What Brody?”
“He’s lucky he’s breathing, Nin. I could have murdered him for eye fucking my girl, let alone he was with my baby sister while doing it.” His grunt causes me to sputter in laughter.
“He probably shit himself, when Hannah broke his nose,” Micah laughs, causing everyone’s head to whip in his direction.
“What!?” Addison, Brody, and Nina all shout in variations of humor, horror, and pride.
“In all fairness, I warned him to back off. When he called me a bitch, I took my anxiety out on him. It was over zealous, and Nina, I’m sorry, but he was here with you and creeping on me. It was disrespectful.”
“So, you broke his damn nose?” Her voice grates in anger, as she regards me.
“Jesus, I can’t believe I missed it. Wait, Micah how’d you see it, if we didn’t.”
“I was leaving the bathroom, as she took him down. I heard his advances, and I heard Hannah’s warnings. He called her a bitch, and then I heard a piercing scream.”
“I should go.” Rolling out of hammock, I make my way to the side gate just as Brody’s hand wraps around my bicep, halting my progression.
“No running, and no hiding.”
“I’m tired, so I’m just going to go home anyway. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I explain, spinning around to face him.
“Sleep here, and stay with me, please. I don’t want you driving upset.” His plea almost guts me. I may be unsure of moving in with him, but I’m not heartless. I love him, and I know he loves me.
“Fine, but just let me go in. You stay and hang out, please.” I beg. I need to process, and I need time to breathe.
“Okay,” he agrees and kisses my forehead. “I’ll give you some space, until the fireworks show.”
“Hey,” I mumble to Brody groggily. I’d hoped that ending my night before everyone else did would offer me time to think and decid
e on the next step to take, but instead, I passed out within seconds of hitting the pillow.
“Morning, baby,” He smiles bright with sleepy eyes, pulling me further onto his chest. “Sleep well?”
“Like the dead.”
“I’ve heard that happens after an adrenaline rush.” A chuckle reverberates against his chest cavity before the sound fills the room.
“Hmm, makes sense.” Pushing up and away from Brody, I make my way into the ensuite bathroom. After I brush my teeth, empty my bladder, and wash my hands and face, I return to the bedroom and quickly change. “Listen, I need to run by my place before work, so I’ll see you, um, at lunch?”
“Hannah, come back to bed. You don’t have to be there before everyone else. Hell, you could just take a sick day,” He suggests, and although he said it jokingly, he’s very much serious. “I’ll nurse you back to bed, I mean health.” The sly grin taking over his once serious expression causes me to smile.
“It doesn’t work like that. It didn’t before you became the successor of JLC, and it doesn’t now. This is my job. Mine. It’s a job I love most days.” I growl, as frustration builds within me.
“I know, and I didn’t mean it, Hannah. Clearly, I can’t say it right, or you just want to pick a fight. And I’m not going to just fight to fight.” His voice is resigned, as he stares at the door just behind me.
“Lunch,” I repeat before turning, then stop and face him again. “I don’t want to fight over my job, Brody. I love you.”
“I love you too, Hannah. See you at the office.”
Making my way down the hallways towards the west wing, where the HR offices are located, I give a quick nod to one of the HR assistant’s, whose desk resides right outside Hannah’s corner office suite. The shit-eating grin that covers her face leads me to believe that she may be the big mouth that Hannah was referring to recently. I raise my hand and give her a quick wave, watching her cheeks flush, when she realizes that I was waving at her and not someone else over her shoulder.